March 15, 2010

Mid-Season Form?

(Photo by Getty Images. The Nationals have laid an egg so far this Spring. Just don't mention that to Ryan Zimmerman)

"If we were 10-0, would you say we were going to win the World Series? No. So there you there you go. I don't want to say the fans don't understand. It's nothing against anybody else who's in here. Some of these guys aren't going to be on our team. It's not their fault."(Ryan Zimmerman, via Nationals Journal, 3/14/2010)

Don't blame Pete Orr for the 0-10 spring, Zim!

Message received, Zim, but unfortunately, the major culprits so far through this little 0-10 dip are guys who ARE going to be on your team. (pssst! check your bullpen!) See Clippard, Capps, Villone, Burnett, Walker, etc. And that Tony Plush fellow. So, as much as we're 100% fully on board with the idea that Spring Training wins and losses aren't significant, you can't simply pin the 0-10 record on the "non-regulars". The regulars have been brutal. But it's only Spring Training! We get that...

But then why does Riggleman seem to be taking it so badly? Quick, someone remind Jim that Rizzo removed that "Interim" tag over the winter. You're on solid ground, Jim (*gulp*!)...

"I really don't know what the right word is. I know I don't feel good about it. I certainly would like to be 10-0. Right now, a win would be better than what we are. ... It feels terrible to lose. I don't care what you are doing. It's terrible to lose."(Jim Riggleman, via All Nats All the Time, 3/14/2010)